Dorylus (Anomma) indocilis (Santschi)
Type locality Zaïre (Dorylus (Anomma) kohli
variety indocilis, Santschi, 1933b: 98, workers, not
illustrated) from Kunungu, collected by Schouteden; worker and
soldier known (see Bolton, 1995)
 .
Santschi's (1933b) description is at
 .
Raignier & van Boven (1955: 33) cited the original
description of four workers, TL 8-9 mm; a small form characterised
by near parallel sides to the square head; but with longer and
narrower mandibles than the type kohli. In their
collections, and at the Tervuren Museum, they saw specimens that
matched the description but hesitated over whether the characters
had any significance beyond being due to variability within
colonies. They made four field collections, with 108 specimens, TL
majors range 9-6.3 mm and minima 3.0-2.2 mm; sides of head slightly
convergent to rear (separating them from victoriae)
mandibles shiny, pointed and curved, basal and subapical teeth with
denticles between; generally head red-brown, anterior border black,
mandible dark-red; thorax and abdomen bright; front of head
semi-matt and finely but very sparsely puncturate, posterior shiny,
with minute pilosity; body semi-matt to shiny. |
Polymorphism -
The photomontages are of specimens from Tanzania, in
Mahale forest, collected by S. Uehara, 28 February March 2002. In
October 2003, Professor Uehara sent me further samples with one
set of specimens from woodland, near Kasanya, Tanzania; and five
sets from the Kalinzu Forest (30°07'E 0°17'S), Uganda.
The colour, especially the dark apical band to the head, and the
size, etc. are consistent with my description (below).
The various morphs are shown in detail on the
Dorylus (Anomma)
indocilis morphs page. |
Full new description - Mahale
28-02-02
TL 9.05 HW 2.7 HL 2.6 HD 1.8 CI 104 SL 1.25 SI 48 AL 2.7 PW 0.9
PetL 0.75 GL 3.0 MFL 1.3
Overall appearance satiny, polished on vertex and apical gaster;
alitrunk, petiole, basal gaster and legs orange chestnut; head
darker, plus apical near black band; most of gaster as apex of
head, but all segments of gaster with a subapical yellow band
(strongest on basal segment).
Head - widest in first third of length; sides parallel for first
third then very evenly convex, narrowing to posterior margin about
two-thirds of maximum width; posterior margin very shallow
scallop, with median bump, posterolateral angles rounded;
sculpturation of fine spiculation all over, minutest of very
sparse hair pits; median line dark and distinct, with slight
impression on frontal area; clypeal margin sinuous, relatively
strong median projection, with long downcurved median and lateral
moderately long and coarse hairs; mandibles polished, with
distinct minute hair pits, relatively short and thick, with
distinct outcurve from position of basal tooth, which is large
acute triangular, with minute denticles subtending a moderate
post-apical tooth, internal hairs and minute but distinct stout
hairs on outer margin; scape short and progressively widening then
sudden thickening to broad apex; funiculus quite thick, with basal
three segments relatively slender, but remainder short and stout,
barely longer than wide and bristly; bulbous profile, ventrally
shallowly convex, frontal area flat; erect hairs none, no
pilosity.
Alitrunk - domed LS and TS but posterior pronotum shallowly
concave flat, without a distinct "saddle"; spiracle
slightly ovoid, front margin raised; propodeum with shallow smooth
down slope and distinct angle (almost denticulate) into short
vertical declivity, the declivity centrally concave; metapleural
gland upper flange distinctly longer than lower and with upturned
end; sculpturation quite coarse spiculation all over; minute stout
pilosity on all of dorsum.
Petiole - short relative to width, flat dorsum, all edges
rounded, distinct posteroventral protrusions; dorsum distinctly
wider at back, sides faintly convex; spiracle small but protruding
slightly from above; subpetiolar process hardly more than a
shallow flange, with a minute tooth at the anterior end;
sculpturation as alitrunk; hairs two dorsally, fine hairs
ventrally.
Gaster - appearance base more finely spiculate than petiole, rest
shiny; first segment short, only slightly waisted; hairs dorsally
none on first segment but rest with fine fringing hairs, shorter
and flat ventrally.
Legs - coxae quite long relative to short femora; femora short,
wide and shiny, with fine decumbent pilosity; tibiae relatively
short, wide and abundant fine pilosity from distinct hair pits;
tarsi relatively short and slender, bristly, short fine claws.
|
 Minima
morph
Head finely spiculate, shiny, colour dark chestnut but paler
anteriorly; dorsum with sparse decumbent pilosity and distinct
hair pits; funiculus segments dark edged, bristly with coarse
semi-erect pilosity. |
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